Multiple-writing machine.



F. A. JOHNSON.

MULTIPLE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

r w m v n lnv eqtor COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

Attest:

P. A. JOHNSON.

MULTIPLE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED DEC. 23, 1912.

1 ,080, 347, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

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F. A. JOHNSON.

MULTIPLE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 23, 1912.

1 ,O80,347, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

6 BHEETB-BHEET 4.

Attest: Inventor:

COLUMBIA ILANOGRAPH Cl). WASHINGTON, D c.

F. A. JOHNSON. MULTIPLE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 23, 1912.

1,080,347, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Inventor:

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII cm, WASIIIN 00000000 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK AMOS JOHNSON, 0F DUNELLEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIGNATURECOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORIPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MULTIPLE-WRITING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Amos JOHN- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Dunellen, in the county of Middlesex and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inlVIultiple-Vriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for si multaneously writing a pluralityof signatures and more particularly to that class of these machineswhich are designed for desk use in the signing of checks, warrants andsimilar instruments. In these machines from four to six pens areordinarily secured to a common, rigid pen-bar and it is necessary tohave a perfectly flat platen or writing surface in order to secure thebest results. Where an ordinary table or desk is used to support thedocuments while the signatures are being affixed the surface is often souneven that some of the pens will not write. I have devised a box-likehousing which serves as a base on which to mount the writing machineitself and I utilize the cover of this box for a writing platen. Thiscover is made with special care to secure as near a perfectly flatsurface as possible and it is attached to the box by strong hinges sothat the cover and pen-bar are maintained in exactly the same relationat all times. Furthermore, that portion of the cover on which thewriting is actually 1 done, is made of a separate piece which isperfectly flat and this is secured to the cover in such a manner that itcannot be affected by the subsequent warping or twisting of the cover.The attachment of the machine proper to the housing is made in such formand the machine is so constructed that the pen-bar may be reversed andtemporarily latched up with the pen points upward, far enough above thewriting surface to permit of easy access to place and adjust thedocuments for signing. The whole writing machine is detachably securedto the housing, so that it may be readily removed for cleaning orrepairs when necessary. The machine has a longitudinal adjustment on thehousing so as to write at the extreme top or the extreme bottom of thedocuments and the pen-bar and its supporting arms have a verticaladjustment so that the pens may be set to write on a single sheet, athin pile, or a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 23, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 738,234.

thick pile, as in a book. When not in use the machine may be folded awayin the box housing which, after the cover is closed, becomes aconvenient carrying case. Improved means is also provided for attachingthe pens to the pen-bar. These improvements and other novel features ofconstruction will be fully pointed out in the description which followsand in the claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan, with the cover opened up and the penbar in positionfor writing; Fig. 2 is a left elevation of the machine, with all theparts in the same position as shownin .Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a frontsectional elevation on the line i\--A of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a frontsectional elevation, the same as Fig. 3, but with the pen-bartemporarily latched up above the writing platen, the pilot handle beingremoved; Fig. 5 is a frontsectional elevation on the line BB of Fig. 1,showing the cover closed and the machine folded away for storage orcarrying; Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are all enlarged detail views of thepen clamp, Fig. 6 being a left side elevation, Fig. 7 a front elevation;Fig. 8, a right elevation; Fig. 9 a cross section on the line C C ofFig. 8-a portion or a section of the pen-bar being shown with each view.Fig. 10 shows the method of attaching the pilot handle to the pen bar.

The housing, which serves as a base or support for the writing machine,the cover of which is used as a document support or writing platen,consists of top portion 1, bottom 2, right side 3, front and rear wallst and cover portion This latter portion is attached by hinges (3 to thebottom 2, supported by two strips 7, which serve as feet to raise thebox high enough to permit the cover being opened up to horizontalposition.

The cover 5, has a recessed portion Fl, in which is loosely fitted aflat plate 9, used to support the documents 10, under that portion atleast, on which the signatures are to be allixed. Plate glass has beenfound to be admirably suitable for this purpose. The recess 8 is deeperthan the thickness of the plate 9 and the plate rests on a front ledge11 which extends the full width of the plate and on a rear ledge 12,which is short and which is central with the plate. These ledges supportthe plate 9 so that its outer surface is flush with the cover. Front andrear screws, the heads of which overlap the glass, hold the plate inplace. It will be seen from this construction that any warping ortwisting of the cover will not affect the plate 9 and that a flatwriting platen is always presented.

The documents to be signed are located in any desired position on thecover by marginal steps or gage pins 14 which are secured in holes 15 inthe cover 5.

The cover is locked in its horizontal position by a pair of toggle links16, which are pivotally connected by hinge pieces 17 to the cover 5 andthe rear wall of the box.

The pen-bar 18, which carries the pens or writing members 19, is heldtouniversal movement in a horizontal plane by parts which make up twoparallelogramsone having pivoted or ointed sides and the other havingrigid sides but swinging axially on one of those sides, as follows: Apair of parallel links 20 pivotally connect the penbar to a swingingrock-shaft 21. These links are forked at each end and attachment is madeto the pen-bar by pivot, center screws 22, which have bearings in blocks23 secured to the pen-bar. Attachment is made at the opposite end to theswinging rockshaft by center screws 22 which have bearings in posts 24in the rock-shaft.

Above the swinging rock-shaft is a fixed rock-shaft 25 which is axiallypivoted and mounted in any convenient manner rigid with andsubstantially parallel to the document support. This shaft has a pair ofarms 26 which are connected by a tie rod 27 to give greater rigidity andstrength. The swinging rock-shaft is axially pivoted between the lowerends of the arms 26, on center screws 28.

The pen-bar, with its pens, the rock-shaft 25 and the intermediateconnecting parts which have already been pointed out, const-itute themain or essential elements of a multiple writing machine as hereinembodied. The mounting of the shaft 25 may be made in a great variety ofways, any of which would make the writing machine operative so long asthe shaft was axially pivoted in the position described. I have shown amounting or means of attaching the essential parts of the machine to thehousing which holds these parts rigidly when in,

writing position, which is capable of both vertical and longitudinaladjustment and which, as already stated, permits of the parts beingfolded away in the box. This mounting comprises a pair of arms 29 whichare rigidly secured to a shaft 30 and connected by a tie rod 31. Therockshaft 25 is axially pivoted by center screws 32 between the outer orfree ends of the arms 29. The shaft 30 is mounted in brackets 33 securedto a base bar 34 and the base bar is held on the under side of the top 1of the housing by a pair of clamps 35 controlled by screw and thumb nuts36.

The bar 34 has at its front end a depending, angular bracket 37, whichcarries at its bottom end a plate 38 provided with a series of adjustingnotches 39. An angular guide rail 40 fastened to the bottom of thehousing enters a notch 41 in the plate 38 to stiffen the structure andstill permit the whole to be moved forward or backward.

The outer or free ends of the arms 29 of the mounting frame which carrythe rockshaft 25 are supported by a pair of toggle links 42 and 43. Aspecially made check nut 44 for the front pivot screw 32 serves as apivot for the link 43 and the lower end of the link 42 is held by ascrew 45 which has a thumb nut 46, by means of which the link 42 ispivotally connected to the plate 38 in one of the notches 39. \Vhen themachine is in writing position the toggle is held locked by a latchspring 47 which is attached to the link 42 and which engages near itsupper end a pin 48 of the curved link 43. This link is curved to permitof the parts being more readily folded away in the box.

From the construction which has just been pointed out it is evident thatby loosening the thumb nuts 36 that the mounting bar and its frame andall connecting parts may be readily adjusted front and rear to anydesired position and that, by putting the screw 45 in the variousnotches 39, that the shaft 25 may be set in four different positions asregards its height.

Each of the pens is attached to the pen- 7 bar by a pen-clamp. Each ofthese clamps has a band port-ion 49 which encircles the pen and isprovided with a clamp screw 50. This pen band is riveted to the verticalportion of a right angled piece 51 which is provided with a recess 52 inwhich the band is fitted tightly and where it is firmly held by a rivet53. On the opposite side of the vertical portion of the angle part 51there is a stud or pin 54 to which is secured a spring 55. Thehorizontal part of the T-shaped pen-bar has a slot 56 cut on its upperside, its entire length and the horizontal portion of the angle 51 isprovided with two screws 56 and 57. Both screws are adapted to enter theslot 56 of the pen-bar. The screw 56 may be set up quite tight or leftso that there is just a running clearance between it and the stud 54; inwhich case the penclamp may be moved along to any position on thepen-bar-being held by the tension of the spring 55. The screw 57 isknurled and acts as an adjusting screw for the pens by rocking theclamps against the tension of the springs 55. These pen-clamps are madeas light as possible and are formed preferably of aluminum. In theimproved construction which has just been described a maximum ofstrength is obtained with a minimum amount of weight and the pen bands,being formed from sheet aluminum, are flexible and they are capable ofwide adjustment for unevenness in the size of the pen barrels withoutany danger of breaking.

The pen-bar is guided by a pilot handle 58 which has a ball and socket(SO-the latter being secured by a socket band 61 to a slotted link (32.This link is adjustably secured by a clamp nut 63 to the front end ofthe pen-bar. The socket G0 is provided with an adjusting screw 6 1 whichis adapted to strike against an incline (35 of the link 62 and by meansof which all lost motion can be taken up. Throughout the machine freemotion is necessary, but all lost motion must be eliminated.

The whole or a large part of the weight of the pen-bar and pens iscarried by a supporting spring 66, the lower end of which is attachednear the end of an arm 67, which is secured to the rock-shaft 21. Theattachment is near the end rather than at the end in order to preventthe spring getting caught in an unnatural position when the parts are inthe position shown in Fig. The upper end of the spring 66 is attached toa compensating lever (38. This lever is fulcrumed on the tie rod 31 ofthe mounting frame and it has a pin (39 which bears against a cam piece70 which is secured to the base bar 84. The object of this constructionis to make a compensating support for the spring, so that, as the shaft25 and its connecting parts are raised by putting the screw 45 in theupper notches of the plate 38, the tension of the spring will not bechanged. The parts are first adjusted so that the pen-bar will justclear the writing surface and so that the arms 26 will hang in avertical position. This is done by getting the spring (36 the righttension and by hitching it in one of the series of holes 71. in theouter end of the compensating lever (58. This is the normal, centralposition and as the pen-bar is carried to the right or to the left theparts tend, by reason of their weight, to return to this position. Toovercome this tendency and to produce a perfectly balanced pen-bar thefixed rock-shaft 25 is provided with an arm 72 to which is pivoted acurved link 72*. This link is con nected by a spring 73 to an extension741; of the height adjusting screw 45. The arm is positioned so thatwhen the parts sup ported by the spring 66 are in the central position,the spring 73 will draw directly across the pivotal axis of the shaft 25and there will be no tendency to turn the shaft; but as soon as thepen-bar is carried to the right or to the left, the spring 73 acts tohold the parts in the position to which they are moved. pen-bar which atall times literally floats and which is absolutely inert.

The parts may be thrown into the position shown in Fig. 4, to permit ofthe placing or adjusting of the documents to be signed, the compensatinglever (38 acting as a support for the pen-bar.

WVhen not in use the parts may be folded away as shown in Fig. 5, byreleasing the spring 47 and breaking the supporting toggle. In'thisposition the swinging rockshaft 21 rests on a block 7 5 which isattached to the bottom 2 of the housing and an elastic loop 76, which isattached to the side 3 of the housing, may he slipped over the penbar tohold the parts in place. The cover may then be closed by releasing thetoggle which secures it to the housing and when closed it is held bylatch springs 77 which engage pins 78 in the cover.

A carrying handle 79 is provided and the box-like housing on which theoperative parts are mounted and which affords a writing platen, becomesa convenient carrying case.

By loosening the nuts 36 the clamps 35 may be released far enough tofree the base bar 3a and the entire machine may then be removed from thehousing.

Having described my invention I now claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the followingelements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; arock-shaft; intermediate connections between said pen-bar and saidrockshaft, by means of which said pen-bar is mounted for universalmovement; a box-like housing having a cover portion said cover beingadapted for use as a document support or writing platen; locking meansbetween said housing and its cover whereby said housing becomes rigidlyfixed with relation to said docmncnt support; movable connectionsbetween said rock-shaft and said housing, whereby said rock-shaft andits connected parts may be maintained wholly inside or outside of saidlmusing and locking means for said movable connections when saidrock-shaft is outside of said housing said locking means being adaptedto secure said rock-shaft in a fixed position over said documentsupport.

2. In a machine of the class described, a pen-bar having a plurality ofpens mounted thereon; a rock-shaft; intermediate connections betweensaid pen bar and said rock shaft, by means of which said pen-bar ismounted for universal movement a box-like housing, having a coverportion-said cover portion being adapted for use as a document supportor writing platen; locking means between said housing and its coverportion, whereby said document support This construction provides a 77becomes rigidly fixed wit-h relation to said housing; a pair of armspivotally joining said. rock-shaft to said housing, in combi nation withmeans for locking said arms and said rock-shaft in a fixed position.

3. In a machine of the class described, a pen-bar having a plurality ofpens mounted thereon; a movable base in the form of a rectangular bar;intermediate connections between said pen-bar and said movable base,whereby said pen-bar is mounted for universal movement; a fixed baseinthe form of a box-like housing,- in combination with a pair of clampssecured to said housing, which are adapted to clamp. said movable baseto said housing and to permit said movable base to be longitudinallyadjusted on said housing.

a. In a machine of the class'described, a pen-bar having a plurality ofpens mounted thereon; a movable base; intermediate con nections betweensaid pen-bar and said movable base, whereby said penbar is mounted foruniversal movement; a fixed base in the form of a box-like housing, incombination with a pair of clamps for adjustab-ly securing said movablebase to and inside of said fixed base-said movable base and itsconnected parts being detachably secured to.

said fixed base.

5. In a machine of the class described, a.

pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; a rock-shaft;intermediate connections between said pen-bar and said rock-. shaft,whereby said pen-bar is mounted for universal movement; a fixed base inthe form of a box-like housing; a movable base, adjustably securedinside of said housing; a shaft mounted on said movable base; a

pair of arms secured to said shaft, between the outer or free ends ofwhich said roclc' shaft is axially pivotedthe parts being so mountedthat said rock-shaft may be held entirely inside of or outside of saidhousing and locking means for said arms, by means of which said shaftmay be held in a fixed position outside of said housing.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the followlngelements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; amovable base; intermediate con nections between said pen-bar and saidmovable base, whereby said pen-bar is mounted for universal movement; afixed base in the form of a box-like housing, having a cover portionwhich is adapted to serve as a document support or writing platen;lockingsupporting means being releasable to permit.

of the adjustment of said pen-bar from aposition outside of said housingover said document support to a stored-away position inside of saidhousing.

7. A mounting for a multiple writing machine, said mounting comprising:a fixed base in the form of a box-like housing; a movable baselongitudinally adjustable on said fixed base; a shaft mounted on saidmovable base; a pair of arms rigidly secured to said shaft.-saidmultiple writing ma- ,chine being supported in the outer or free ends ofsaid arms; and an adjustable sup.- port for said arms.

8. In a mounting for a multiple writing machine, the combination of thefollowing elements: a fixed base in the form of a boxlike housing; amovable base adjustably secured to the inside of said fixed base;supporting connections between said movable base and said multiplewriting machine; and means for vertically adjusting said supportingconnections.

9. In a machineof the class described, the combination of the followingelements: a document support; a pen-bar having a plurality of pensmounted thereon; a fixed base; intermediate connections between saidpenbar and said fixed base, whereby said penbar is mounted for universalmovement over said document support and means for adjusting said pen-barand said intermediate connections, vertically and longitudinally, withrelation to saiddocument support.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality ofpens mounted thereon;a rock-shaft; intermediate connections between said pen-bar and saidrockshaft, whereby said pen-bar is mounted for universal movement; afixed base in the form of a box-like housingthe cover portion of saidhousing being adapted to serve as a document support or writing platen;locking means between said platen and said housing; a second base,detachably secured inside of said housing; supporting connectionsbetween said second base and said rock-shaft for said rock-shaft; adepending bracket secured to said second base and supporting meansbetween said bracket and said supporting connections.

11. I11 a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a rock-shaft; intermediate connections between said pen-bar andsaid rockshaft, whereby said pen-bar is mounted for universal movement;a fixed base in the form of a box-like housing, having a cover portionadapted to serve as a document support or writing platen; locking meansbetween said cover portion and said. fixed base; a movable baselongitudinally adjustable with relation to said fixed base; movableconnections between said movable base and said rock-shaft whichv areadapted to support said rock-shaft; a depending bracket secured to saidmovable base; a support be tween said bracket and said movableconnections-said support being adapted to hold said rock-shaft outsideof said housing and being releasable to permit said rockshaft and saidintermediate connections being folded away wholly inside of saidhousing.

12. A mounting for a multiple writing machine comprising: a fixed base;a movable base adjustable on said fixed base; a shaft secured to saidmovable base; a pair of arms rigidly secured to said shaft, whichsupport said writing machine; a depending bracket upon said movablebase; a guide for said bracket on said fixed base; and a support betweensaid bracket and said arms.

13. A mounting for a multiple writing machine, comprisin a fixed base,in the form of a box-like housing; a movable base adjustably mounted onthe inner or under side of the top portion of said fixed base; a shaftsecured to said movable base; a pair of arms rigidly secured to saidshaft, which support said writing machine; a depending bracket upon saidmovable base; a guide for said bracket on the lower or bottom portion ofsaid fixed basesaid bracket being provided with a series of recesses; apair of hinged, toggle, supporting links-the outer end of one of saidlinks being pivoted to one of the before mentioned arms and the outerend of the other link being securable in any of said recesses; and meansfor locking or rendering said toggle links rigid.

14-. In a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a swinging rock-shaft; a pair of links pivotally connectingsaid pen-bar to said rock-shaft; a fixed rock-shaft; a pair of armsrigidly secured to said fixed rockshaft between the outer or free endsof which said. swinging rock-shaft is axially pivoted; an adjustablesupport for said fixed rockshaft; a spring which is adapted to supportthe weight of said pen-bar and means for simultaneously adjusting saidspring and said support for said fixed rock-shaft, in a vertical.direction.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a swinging rock-shaft; a pair of links pivotally connectingsaid pen-bar to said rock-shaft; a fixed rock-shaft; a pair of armsrigidly secured to said fixed rockshaft between the outer or free endsof which said swinging rock-shaft is axially pivoted; an adjustablesupport for said fixed rockshaft; an arm secured to said swingingrockshaft; a spring attached to said arm and adapted to support theweight of said penbar; a support for said spring which is independent ofsaid adjustable support for said rock-shaft and means for simultaneouslyadjusting said rock-shaft support and said spring support in a verticaldirection.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a swinging rock-shaft; a pair of links pivotally connectingsaid pen-bar to said rock-shaft; a fixed rock-shaft; a pair of armsrigidly secured to said fixed rock shaft, between the outer or free endsof which said swinging rock-shaft is axially pivoted; a fixed base inthe form of a box-like housing the cover portion of which is adapted toserve as a docmnent support or writing platen; locking means betweensaid cover and said housing; a movable base secured inside of said.housing; a shaft mounted on said movable base; a pair of arms rigidlysecured to said shaft, between the outer or free ends of which saidfixed rock-shaft is axially pivoted and which is adapted to support saidfixed rock-shaft either inside or outside of said housing; a tie-rod forthe last mentioned pair of arms; a spring-supporting lever fulerumed insaid tie-rod; a cam bracket secured to said movable base, against whichsaid lever rests; an arm secured to said swinging rock-shaft; a springconnecting said arm to said spring support; means for adjustablysecuring said fixed rock-shaft in a plurality of vertical positionssaidcam bracket simultaneously securing a cmrespmiding adjustment of saidsprin 17. In a machine of the class described the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; an adjustable mounting for said pen-bar; means for seem-mg saidmounting in a plurality of vertical positions; a spring support for saidpen-bar and means for simultaneously adjusting said mounting and said.spring support.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a vertically adjustable mounting frame for said pen bar; aspring adapted to sustain the weight of said pen-bar; a springsupporting lever mounted on said adjustable mounting frame and a cam forcontrolling said leverwhereby, as said mounting frame is adjusted, saidspring is correspondingly adjusted.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of thefollowing elements: a pen-bar, having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a swinging rock-shaft; a pair of links pivotally connectingsaid pen-bar to said rock-shaft; a fixed rockshaft; a pair of armsrigidly secured to said fixed rock-shaft, between the outer or free endsof which said swinging rock-shaft is axially pivoted, a fixed base, inthe form of a boxlike housing, having a cover portion which is adaptedto serve as a document support or writing platen; a movable baseadjustably secured to said fixed base; a shaft mounted on said movablebase; a pair of arms rigidly secured to said shaft, between whichsaidfixed rock-shaft is axially pivoted; means for supporting said fixedrock-shaft in a fixed position over said document support-said\partsbeing foldable into a stored-away position inside of said housing; asupporting block for said swinging rock-shaft when inside of saidhousing and a band or loop for securing said penbar in its stored-awayposition. I

20. In a machine of the class described, a pen-bar adapted to carry aplurality of pens; pen clamps for said pens, by means of which said pensare attached to said bar reach of said pen-clamps being formed of a Ibase portion which is adjustable on said pen-bar and a band portion,which is adapted to encircle a pensaid base portion being recessed toreceive said band portion and said band portion being tightly secured tosaid base portion in said recess.

21. In a machine of the class described, a pen-bar adapted to carry aplurality of pens, in combination with a pen clamp which is adapted tohold said pens to said bareach of said clamps comprising an angularportion and a band portion-said angular portion being secured to saidpenbar by a spring connection on one side and by a pair of guide andadjusting screws on the opposite side and said band portion beingsecured by a rivet in a recess of the angular portion.

'22. A machine for simultaneously writing a plurality of signatures,comprising a horizontal penbar having a plurality of pens mountedthereon; a horizontal rockshaft; a pair of links pivotally connectingsaid pen-bar to said rock-shaft; a second rock-shaft axially pivoted insuitable bearings above the first rock-shaft; a pair of normallyvertical arms rigidly secured to said second rock-shaft, between thelower extremities of which said first rock-shaft is axially pivoted andmeans for latching said vertical arms in a substantially horizontalposition and said links in a reversed horizontal position, whereby saidpen-bar and pens are bottom side up. i

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base orsupport, a supporting frame pivotally mounted upon said base or supportand adjustable thereon into and out of operative position, meansconnecting said supporting frame with said base or support for lockingsaid supporting frame in operative position, a pen bar hav ing aplurality of writing members thereon,

and intermediate connections between said pen bar and said supportingframe, by means of which said pen bar is mounted for universal movement.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pen barhaving a plurality of pens mounted thereon, a rock shaft, intermediateconnections between said pen bar and said rock shaft by means of whichsaid pen bar is mounted for universal movement, a base or support, apair of armspivotally mounted upon said base and adjust ably supportingsaid rock shaft upon said base or support, and means for locking saidarms in a fixed position.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pen barhaving a plurality of pens mounted thereon, a rock shaft, intermediateconnections between said pen bar and said rock shaft by means of whichsaid pen bar is mounted for universal movement, a box-like housing, apair of 'arms pivotally mounted in said housing and adjustablysupporting said rock shaft in said housing, and means for locking saidarms in a fixed position outside of said housing.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base orsupport, an ad justable supporting frame pivotally mounted upon saidbase or support, means connecting said supporting frame with said baseor support, for locking said supporting frame in a fixed position, aswinging frame pivoted to and depending from said supporting frame, apen bar carrying a plurality of writing members, and intermediateconnections between said pen bar and said swinging frame havinguniversal joint connection with said swinging frame.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base orsupport, a supporting frame pivotally mounted upon said base or support,and adjustable thereon into and out of operative position, toggle linksconnecting said supporting frame with said base or support, a swingingframe pivoted to and depending from said supporting frame, a pen barcarrying a plurality of writing members, and intermediate connectionsbetween said pen bar and said swinging frame.

28. In a machine of the class described, the co'mbinationof a base orsupport, an adjustable supporting frame pivotally mounted upon said baseor support, means connecting said supporting frame with said base orsupport for locking said supporting frame in a fixed position, a pen barcarrying a plurality of writing members, intermediate connectionsbetween said pen bar and said supporting frame by means of which saidpe'n bar is mounted thereon for universal movement, a

spring supporting lever carried by said supporting frame, a springconnected with said lever adapted to sustain the weight of said pen bar,and a cam fixed upon said base or support in position to engage saidlever to adjust its position when the supporting frame is adjusted.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base orsupport, a supporting frame pivotally mounted upon said base or supportand adjustable thereon into and out of operative position, meansconnecting said supporting frame with said base or support for lockingsaid supporting frame in operative position, a swinging frame pivoted toand depending from said supporting frame, a rock shaft ournaled in thelower end of said swinging frame, a pen bar carrying a plurality ofwriting members, intermediate connections between said pen bar and saidrock shaft, a spring supporting lever carried by said supporting frame,an arm upon said rock shaft, a spring connecting said arm with saidlever, and a cam fixed upon said base or support in position to engagesaid lever to adjust its position when the supporting frame is adjusted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. AMOS JOHNSON.

WVitnesses:

M. C. CRANE, JOHN E. Mi'nmnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

